Posted by Phil Wilson [ 216.201.177.121 ] on March 05, 2004 at 10:44:07:
In Reply to: Ultimate single ended Triode amp posted by akhilesh on March 05, 2004 at 09:01:02:
I am interested in people's thoughts on this as well. I also have a Zen (the Select version, which is the same circuit and tubes as Akhilesh's). I also love my amp but I have noticed in my limited listening experience that the higher-powered tube amps (like Akhilesh's kit from S-5 Electonics and Mark Margiotta's Music Reference - both push-pulls - and even the Paramour's) seem to have more authority in the lower frequencies, even on the single driver speakers Akhilesh and I own. I haven't had enough A/B listening to identify what you lose with this (if anything) but it is something I've noticed. Since I want to build an amp sometime, I will probably do a higher-powered version when I do it (probably a kit, but someday I'd like to do one from scratch).
Also, from what I read, it sounds like other than the tube you choose that the power transformers are the key upgrades to make the "ultimate" amp. What transformers do people think are the best?